Melissa is a visionary tech executive, entrepreneur and business leader who has created global companies and transformative technologies. Most recently, as CEO of ventureLAB, she is recognized for transforming the organization into an award-winning, pan-Canadian, diverse-led organization, thrice recognized as a Great Place to Work and as one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures.

Melissa is recognized for her instrumental role to elevate Canada in the global semiconductor industry through initiatives such as ventureLAB’s Hardware Catalyst Initiative, Canada’s first and only hub for semiconductor and hardware tech companies and an original founder member of Canada’s Semiconductor Council.

Building on her 25-year career scaling global technology multinationals and start-ups in the telecommunications and semiconductor sectors, Melissa is a highly respected thought leader at the strategic intersection of critical technology sectors and the imperative for a more inclusive tech ecosystem. During her tenure, over 60% of ventureLAB’s leadership identified as female or from underrepresented groups and over 40% of the team from diverse backgrounds.

She is a passionate advocate for Innovation, Technology Commercialization and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; in particular the advancement of Women and Girls in STEM. She has served as a past board director at NGEN Canada, Mackenzie Health Innovation Institute and the Corporate Cabinet of Make-A-Wish Canada. Melissa has been previously recognized as Canada’s Top 3 Women to Watch by Canadian Manufacturing and Top 18 Pandemic Pivoters by The Peak.

Melissa holds an MBA with Honours from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Computer Engineering from McGill University.